I'm not suggesting we should never be sad or feel anything but joy. I am suggesting that our emotions tell us a lot more about our heart than we'd like to admit. Our emotions tend to follow our thoughts, and our thought patterns tell us what we really believe. When it comes right down to it, our consistent thoughts tell about how much faith we really have. In that case, dismissing our emotions without using them to examine our hearts is like choosing to be blind.
The way we think about others, ourselves and circumstances are all important things we must examine when we want to grow in our faith. Ignoring what's in our minds can seriously hinder us. Acting as though we have no control over our thoughts is really calling scripture a liar. God is a mighty Creator, but He doesn't dictate our minds for us. That's up to each of us, individually.
The wrong thought patterns can lead to unhealthy patterns all throughout our relationships and circumstances. I'm afraid that many of our hopeless feelings come from thoughts we've allowed, consciously or unconsciously, to plant and take root in our minds. And unfortunately, many never identify the lies that they dangerously cling to because they believe they can't do anything about it. We weren't chosen to be powerless. The things we think can expose spiritual strongholds that, if addressed before the Lord, can bring about some serious change in our hearts and lives.
Webster's defines Stronghold as a fortified place; a place dominated by a particular characteristic. As believers, we're called to let God be our refuge, not build up our own city with walls in our minds. Anything done without Him is going to fail. Yet we tend to adopt certain thinking, even subconsciously, that we set up as truth even though it's not God's truth. We even avoid hearing the real truth because we've already made up our minds. Or that stuff has been in our heads since the early years of development and we just don't know how to deal with it. We tell ourselves, " It's okay to follow my own thoughts and beliefs even if it does go against what God's word says." Somewhere in it all, we're hanging onto it.
We continue to apply the lies to our lives as truth. Before we know it, one thought has dirtied up our thought system and is controlling us. It hinders us from accepting truth and admitting we need change. I don't know of any worse feeling than to feel stuck in my own perspective, because my mind seems controlled by lies. It's the worst kind of prison.
It's the grace of God that allows us to see our own hearts for what they are. Without Him, we couldn't see it, much less bear it. God is always so gentle when He shows my heart to me. He doesn't do it to condemn me, but to set me free from things that hold me down by keeping me from living like He called me to live. I can't be free to serve Jesus if I am chained to something else. I know I'm not the only one with this problem.
There is freedom and peace that comes with seeing who we are and knowing He wants to heal us. His healing is what allows us to live with integrity. Without a relationship with Jesus, we think we see better than we really do. Unless that relationship is continuous, we will keep having this problem. But that relationship is our choice. He is willing. And I bet if you think about it, you'll realize He has actually reached out to you on many occasions.
Although I have plenty more, I want to share some of the thinking problems I've come to see in myself through my relationship with Jesus. I would love to hear some of yours as well.
Problem Thoughts:
1. Believing someone is beyond the hope of change. Claiming your own thoughts and personality traits as your identity and then projecting the same theory onto others. You say things like,"It's just the way I am. I will always be this way." "That's just the way he / she is."
2. Resisting forgiveness (being forgiven or offering forgiveness). Sometimes forgiveness just takes time. But it always requires God's help. As you learn to trust Him, you become better at accepting and offering it.
3. Resisting change out of pride and concern for your ego, even though you know this change would make you more Christ-like. Anything done is pride is going to cause problems.
4. Blaming other people for how you think, act and react. Proper boundaries help you to know where you end and others begin.
5. Refusing to show some understanding to someone. Understanding is the key to healthy relationships and human interaction. You don't have to agree or even be in their shoes to try to understand. You just have to recognize them as being equally human as you.
6. Thinking you are better than someone else based on skin color, background, education, jobs, pet peeves, habits, amount of money or even past sins. Nothing in scripture justifies this thought.
7. Speaking the "truth" with harshness. We probably don't understand the real truth if we don't have gentleness.
8. Believing a person must earn respect. Respect is always freely given by people who trust God to do right by them.
9. Putting your material things or money before your relationships. Jesus put people before things. Your should is eternal but things are short lived.
10. Expecting other people to change while you are unwilling to. I have yet to see a relationship where this doesn't end in disaster. Those you expect to change will outgrow you if you just sit there and do nothing about you.
